Denver Moves: Neighborhood Bikeways

Denver Moves identifies neighborhood bikeways (NBW, formerly known as bicycle boulevards) as streets that are designed to give priority to non-motorized users and discourage through traffic by motorized vehicles. On NBWs, a separate space in the street (such as a bike lane) is not necessary because non-motorized users' preference is communicated through the roadway design, signage and traffic calming measures.

Sharrow is an abbreviated term for a shared lane arrow. Although motorists and cyclists are always expected to share public roadways, sharrows are a pavement marking symbol for use on select designated on-street bike routes. The sharrow designates where a cyclist should ride to be outside of the adjacent parked cars "door zone."

It also serves for bicycle route wayfinding and to provide a visual reminder that motorists and cyclists are to share the road.

Current Projects

The study area for this proposed Neighborhood Bikeway is in western Denver between Navajo Street and Sheridan Boulevard on W 35th Avenue. The mostly-residential corridor is 2.6 miles long and connects to key bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular routes, including downtown Denver.

A feasibility study was completed in 2015. The project is currently in the final design stage. Installation is expected to begin in 2017.

The Denver Livability Partnership developed a study and preliminary designs for the Knox Court NBW in 2013. This project is in design and expected to be installed in 2017. Project limits are from Kentucky St to Alameda.

Denver Moves identified the Garfield Street corridor between City Park and the Cherry Creek Trail as an ideal candidate to become a neighborhood bikeway, as an important north-south route connecting residential, commercial and recreation areas.

A feasibility study was completed in 2015. The project is expected to go to design in 2016.

Denver Moves identified the 12th Avenue corridor between Garfield Street and Yosemite Street (City of Aurora) as an ideal candidate to become a neighborhood bikeway, with new design features that would enhance bicycling and walking for a wide range of people.

In 2017, Denver plans to install a NBW on Knox Ct from Alameda to Kentucky, and W 35th Ave from Navajo to Sheridan, and make improvements at intersections along Garfield Street and at Knox/Alameda/Morrison.